Things to do Alone in Singapore

Published: July 18, 2024
Things to do Alone in Singapore

Sometimes, you just need some time away from people. Interaction is great and all, but getting some space to be alone and clear your head is necessary once in a while. It's the same with vacations. Some may be fun to spend with friends and family, while others might be better off alone.

So, if you're visiting Singapore this year by yourself and want to know what's good, we've got you covered. In this list of the best things to do alone in Singapore, we'll cover all of the city's best bits while riding solo. And who knows, you might even meet a special someone along the way.

Including:

  • City tours by bus, boat, or bike
  • Gardens by the Bay
  • Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin
  • Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience
  • Singapore Zoo
  • and more!
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Image courtesy of Towfiqu ahamed barbhuiya/Shutterstock

Big Bus Singapore

If you're traveling alone, the thought of solo sightseeing probably fills you with giddy glee. Without the hindrance of human connection, you're free to soak up all the culture and landmarks with quiet contemplation and a keen ear. And where better to see all of Singapore's best bits than on a bus tour of the city?

Thanks to the hop-on, hop-off nature of the tour, you can get off at any landmark, explore, and then hop on the next bus to move on. Your audio guide will fill you in on all the history of each stop, giving you insight into the era they were built.

If you're interested in the melting pot of cultures present in the city, take the red line to see the likes of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam. Or, if you're in it for the spectacle, take the yellow line to see Singapore's most famous attractions like the Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Art Museum, and Raffles Hotel.

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Historical Singapore Bicycle Tour

If you prefer your sightseeing on two wheels with a dollop of adrenaline, then why not take a bike tour of the city instead?

With your expert guide in tow, you'll visit many of Singapore's highlights, including Chinatown, the Singapore River, Boat, Clarke & Robertson Quays, Kampong Glam, The Museum District, and more. They'll make sure to keep you in the loop with the history, culture, and big events that have taken place in each area.

And, over the course of the four-hour tour, you'll work up a nice sweat to boot - the perfect remedy to your calorific evening excursions!

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Singapore River Cruise

And to round out our sightseeing portion of the day, if bikes and buses don't quite cut it, see the city from a different perspective on a Singapore river cruise!

Board a traditional bumboat, and you'll float in style past famous sights like Old Parliament House, Raffles' Landing Site, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade, The Merlion Park, and Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort.

Just make sure your phones or cameras are at the ready - you'll want to snap dozens of pictures to the envy of everyone else.

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Gardens by the Bay

One of the best things to do alone is to experience nature in its most peaceful form. And in Singapore, you've got the Gardens by the Bay, one of the most recognizable green spaces on the planet.

Over 101 hectares and filled with 1.5 million plants from all over the world, you'll explore indoor and outdoor gardens, lakes, conservatories, huge sculptures, artwork, and more. Its beauty is so widely known that you might even recognize it - many films and TV shows have filmed scenes amid its luscious flora.

Be sure to check out the Flower Dome, the world's largest glass greenhouse. Inside, you'll find displays representative of five continents, including 1000-year-old olive trees. And if you want to add a cinematic sheen to your visit, check out Avatar: The Experience at Cloud Forest. This immersive experience will transport you to Pandora and allow you to marvel at its cascading waterfalls, spiraling walkways, and fantastical creatures.

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Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin

This is the second time on this list we'll be heading onto the water. But this time, you're free to go at your own pace. Well, to a degree. Ketam Island is one of the last villages in Singapore, so go exploring on this kayak adventure!

You and a few others will join an expert guide as you roam the waters around Pulau Ubin, home to Ketam Island. Alongside the rustic village, you'll find plenty of untouched natural beauty, good vibes, and fresh air to fill your lungs with.

And your guide will be happy to fill your withered brain with sweet, sweet knowledge about all the flora, fauna, and culture you'll find. If you're looking for relaxing things to do alone in Singapore, this kayak adventure should be top of your itinerary!

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Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience

If you've ever wanted to take to the skies in a fighter jet, you can do the next best thing with this VR Fighter Jet Experience!

Perfect for solo travelers, you'll get basic training from a qualified instructor. Then, you'll hop in the virtual cockpit and be pulling corkscrews, loops, and flashing past American landmarks like the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge.

All that without ever leaving the ground. Nice. Then, when you're done, you can attempt landing a multi-million dollar piece of tech. Good luck.

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Singapore Zoo

And finally, we'll end our exploration of things to do alone in Singapore with a little visit to the animal kingdom. At Singapore Zoo, you'll have the chance to meet thousands of exotic animals from across the globe.

If you like orangutans, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, crocodiles, monkeys, rhinos, and zebras, you'll be in your element. But this isn't any old zoo. It's more of an open concept, landing somewhere between a zoo and a safari. That means more space for the animals and happier animals as a result.

And that's everything you need to know about things to do alone in Singapore! Looking for more fun things to do on your vacation? Check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can pick and choose the best of Singapore for one low price. Even things to do with others, if you happen to meet someone on your solo travels!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Family at the Gardens of the Bay
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Singapore winter events to watch for

Whilst many destinations batten down the hatches from December through to the start of March, there are a slew of winter events which take place annually in Singapore. The start of peak season, Singapore winter events range from Christmas and New Year celebrations to music festivals. Temperatures at this time of year rarely drop below 24°C. Humidity levels are some of the lowest at any time in Singapore’s calendar. So although you’re likely to face a bit of rain, especially at the start of the winter season, it’s certainly not going to dampen spirits as Singapore’s winter events take hold! Want to know what not to miss? Check out the top Singapore winter events right here! Christmas events in Singapore Head to Singapore towards the start of December and there’s no getting away from the Christmas festivities! Many of Singapore’s year-round attractions make an extra special effort to show seasonal cheer, whilst pop up events aren’t difficult to find either. Head to Gardens by the Bay and you not only get to explore the like of the avatar experience at its Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, but also its Christmas Wonderland. In the shade of the famed Supertree Grove, visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, take to rides including a Victorian carousel and enjoy a magical sound and light show. Needless to say, the wonderland is at its best after dark. Any time of day is a good time to visit the Christmas market at Capitol Singapore’s Outdoor Plaza. As well as a great place to do some last-minute gift buying, there’s an eight-meter-high Christmas tree, some of the best Christmas lights in Singapore, and even a nightly ‘snowfall’ around 7 PM. Elsewhere, you can fulfil your Christmas ice skating dreams at the indoor rinks at JCube or Kallang Ice World whatever the weather. New Year events in Singapore As if to prove just how glorious Singapore is at this time of year, Singapore gets no less than two new year celebrations. Festivities take place across the island, but the top place to head for the December 31 countdown to midnight has to be Marina Bay. The waterfront is lined with entertainment and lights leading up to the event everyone has been waiting for – the magnificent firework display as the clocks strike twelve. And what about Singapore’s other new year celebration? If you visit Singapore towards the end of January, you won’t fail to notice the lead up to Chinese New Year. This two-week long celebration coincides with the full moon, giving it its alternative name of the Lunar New Year. Chinatown is the obvious place to head, where stalls sell special treats such as nian gao (sweet rice cakes) beside exquisitely-made lanterns and other decorations. Firecrackers are another essential ingredient of the traditions, used to scare away a mythical beast. The celebrations culminate in another unmissable fair and firework display at Marina Bay. Additional January events in Singapore Displays of another kind are to be had at Singapore Art Week. Marrying traditional gallery exhibitions with talks, tours and art walks, it has become Singapore’s premier art event since its creation roughly a decade ago. An island-wide arts extravaganza, it usually takes place in late December or January. Mid-January is the timing of Pongal, or Harvest Festival. It’s marked by many Singaporeans with colorful rice flour artworks at the entrance to homes and businesses. Hindu temples become busy with worshippers, and special performances crop up alongside a variety of family-friendly hands-on workshops. At around the same time, the Singapore Fringe Festival brings a range of provocative, contemporary and heart-warming acts to its Theatres on the Bay location. A mix of Singaporean and international performers engage audiences with ticketed performacnes as diverse as Singapore itself! Other Singapore winter events For unrivalled revelry to the beat of some of the world’s best DJs, Singapore has the ZoukOut Music Festival. A far cry from the country’s reputation of hardworking efficiency, ZoukOut provides a great excuse to let your hair down. Taking place in early December on Sentosa Island’s Siloso Beach, this dusk-till-dawn celebration of dance music has become one of the biggest in Asia. No surprise then that it attracts some of the top names in the business. Previous incarnations have seen sets by the likes of David Guetta, Stereo MCs and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Singapore’s pleasure island, elsewhere on Sentosa visitors will discover a range of superb attractions. Extreme sports enthusiasts will satisfy their need for a new adrenaline rush at AJ Hackett Sentosa Giant Swing and Skybridge. From its maximum height of 40 meters, equivalent to a 12-story building, you’ll get the thrill of a lifetime and incredible views! A great alternative for those who aren’t sure their life insurance is up to date is Singapore Cable Car. It links Singapore’s Keppel harbor front with Sentosa and Mount Faber, providing expansive vistas across the southern coastline along the way. Meanwhile, February is a big month for couples thanks to Valentine’s Day. The recently heartbroken might well want to avoid Singapore this month since it goes all out with hearts and other symbols of pairing up. Most restaurants create special menus just for the day – make sure you book in good time – but there are other events to look out for too. These include outdoor movie screenings at Keppel Bay and couples’ massages in many spas. Or how about a romantic cruise along the Singapore River, taking in some of the country’s finest cityscapes? Visit for Singapore’s winter events – save on Singapore’s top attractions There are lots of reasons to consider a trip to Singapore during the winter months. You might be after a little warmth as the weather turns colder back home. Or you might be keen to explore Singapore’s winter events schedule. Either way, don’t miss your chance to experience Singapore’s top year-round attractions as well. We think there’s no better way to do this then with Go City! We give you the opportunity to save on admission whilst taking in a massive range of picks, from museums to theme parks.
Alex Birungi
day trips from singapore
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Day Trips from Singapore

Vacations are great, aren't they? They give you an escape from the busyness of your everyday life, so your mind and body get a well-deserved rest. However, after a few days of exploring your chosen destination, you may begin to wonder what adventures lie beyond. It's in our nature as human beings - no matter how much we already have, we always want more. Greed is bad, but greed for new experiences is good. So why not flex those adventurous muscles on your vacation in Singapore? Explore the best day trips from the city and discover the many delights that lie just a few minutes away. Presumably, that's why you're here. Right? Good. In that case, settle in, lean back, and adorn your most hilarious reading utensils, as we explore the best day trips from Singapore. In no time, you'll realize just how many of them are utterly unmissable! Including: Sentosa Island Pulau Ubin Bintan Johor Bahru Malacca and more! Sentosa Island If you've planned a vacation to Singapore, then you probably already know about Sentosa Island. It's one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, with heaps of things to do and see, and places to relax. On top of exciting attractions like the Giant Swing and Skybridge, as well as mind-bending experiences like Sentosa 4D Adventureland, you'll also find hiking trails, casinos, and shops galore. They even have a Universal Studios theme park, just to top it all off. With something for everyone, and just a short trip off the southern part of Singapore, Sentosa Island practically begs for a visit. Combine your trip there with some amazing views by taking a cable car to the island. Pulau Ubin Pulau Ubin is something special - an island paradise that's the perfect remedy to Singapore's bustling metropolis. It's one of the most popular day trips from Singapore, but don't expect anywhere near the same amount of foot traffic. Featuring a breathtaking coastline, beautiful wetlands, and the last remaining village in Singapore, it'll make quite the change from Singapore's sprawling urban landscape. Why not experience the serenity of Pulau Ubin on a nature kayaking adventure? It's a great way to make the most of the weather, and your guide will be able to clue you in on the flora, fauna, and culture you'll find on your journey. Bintan A short boat ride from Singapore's shores, you'll find Bintan - a beach-laden paradise island in Indonesia. With a perfect mix of untouched jungle, sprawling white sand, and high-end entertainment, it deserves a place on this list of the best day trips from Singapore! Watersports fans will rejoice at the choice of activities at many of the local facilities, and even relax-seekers are welcome at many of the laidback bars, restaurants, and hotels. If it's adventure you seek, take a tour into the nearby treeline and explore the more exotic parts of Bintan. Then, simply hop on the ferry back to Singapore. What a day. Johor Bahru Head to Malaysia's shores, and you'll find Johor Bahru. JB to its friends, Johor Bahru is one of the largest cities in the country. So if you want to pick up some sweet deals, it's worth a visit. Oh, and did we mention prices there are significantly cheaper than in Singapore? Probably should have led with that. You'll also find a brilliant mix of cultural sites, from temples to mosques. All of that, and it's only an hour out of Singapore. So what's stopping you? Malacca Malacca is a trading port - one of the most important in the region's history. Surprisingly, it even still has much of its colonial architecture intact, which brings throngs of history-seeking tourists to its shores every year. And while people might come for the heritage, they stay for the food. Featuring a mix of cuisine inspiration from all over the world, you'll not taste anything quite like it anywhere else. It's not unusual to find Portuguese-Malay infusions on many menus. Iskandar Puteri Heading to Malaysia once more, our next recommendation is Iskander Puteri. Home to Malaysia's own Legoland, and even a theme park dedicated to the worldwide kids' brand Hello Kitty, there will be plenty for kids to do if you're bringing them along. You'll also be treated to some fantastic food from one of the many renowned restaurants that call Iskandar Puteri home. Sure, those same kids might settle for fish sticks and chips, but you'll be dining on some classy plates from all over the world. End your trip with a visit to the excellent shopping district and pick up some treats for back home. Desaru Another island paradise that lies just 30 minutes from Singapore is Desaru. One look at its pearl-white beaches, and you'll agree. If the weather's good, hop on the ferry from Changi Airport and go get some much-needed sunbathing! When you've soaked up enough rays to roast a chicken, what do you do next? Well, you could visit Desaru Ostrich Farm. Remarkably, it's a farm for ostrich. Go bask in the big bird's glory, and even try some ostrich egg on toast. Weird. Kusu Island And finally, we'll end our jaunt through the best day trips from Singapore with another ferry trip, this time to Kusu - or Tortoise - Island. With a perfect mix of relaxing natural beauty and religious sites, it could make for one hell of a day trip! Explore the island's tropical flora, visit the beaches, and then gaze at the many animals that live there - from a distance, preferably. Then, follow the pilgrimage path to visit Kusu Island's many temples. Nice. And here ends our list of the best day trips from Singapore! Whatever you're hoping to explore outside the city, you're bound to find something on this list that ticks all your boxes. Wondering what other Singapore-related activities to experience on your vacation? Check out Go City! With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can book your spots way in advance and get the best prices around.
Dom Bewley

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